{on the move}

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." 

                                                                                                             — Albert Einstein

Since the address of this blog references my 365, a project I notably failed to complete, I decided to start a fresh clean blog.  You know, one that doesn't reference my failure in the address ;).  You will find it HERE and I would love it (like really love it) if you would join me over there.  It's still in the construction stage but it's up and running for now.  You will see that I have teamed up with some really fabulous ladies from The Bloom Forum as part of my 52 week challenge.  Our blogs are all linked in a circle that you can click through to see how we interpreted the theme each week.  I bet you will be as inspired by them as I have been!

Please come over and check it out!  You will find this week's image here.

{laugh out loud}

"Life is worth living as long as there's a laugh in it." 

                                                          -L.M. Montgomery

1/52 Things I love . . . {fresh starts}

You can never go back and start a new beginning,

but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

                                    -Maria Robinson

The end of one year and beginning of another makes us look back at where we have been and look ahead to where we are going.  2010 has been quite a year.  I started the year with a goal of a picture a day but fell off the wagon somewhere past half way through.  Though I wasn't successful in completing the project I learned a tremendous amount and my camera and about myself.  I overcame my self-consciousness of shooting in public places and learned to embrace the details of life's little beautiful moments.

I captured my kids.  Sometimes in obvious ways, other times more creatively.  I cherish all of these images of them today and know I will only love them more as the years pass and the memories of who they once were grow thinner and harder to recall.  One of the strongest things I take forward into 2011 is remembering to capture them.  The smiles, the silly, the serious.  

In 2010, I was also thrilled with the chance to capture other people. It was an immense pleasure to get a chance to put it all together on people other than my kids.

And speaking of capturing my kids as they are today, here's my boy.  He thinks he's so funny.  He came over when I was taking the calendar picture and when I would point the camera at him he'd say "cheese!"  I never say that so I have no idea where he picked it up from.  

From our family to yours, may you be blessed with love and laughter in 2011!

{a creative journey}

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; 

but it is the journey that matters, in the end."

                                                                         -Ernest Hemmingway

Marta Locklear is hosting a creative journey of hue and texture on her blog.  This is just the type of creative exercise I'm looking for to battle the winter blues.

Last week's inspiration points were

hue. silver.  texture. shiny.

You can see this week's theme here if you'd like to join in.

{believe . . . }

This picture is old (and noisy).  My baby's not that small anymore but I do love the look of wonder in his first meeting with Santa.  We're headed off to one of our holiday traditions tonight - a train of lights - which is where this shot was taken.  My kids are so excited!

{anticipation}

"Never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Work's important, family's important, but without excitement, you have nothing. You're cheating yourself if you refuse to enjoy what's coming." – Nicholas Sparks

Christmas week is in full swing at my house.  We spent the weekends with my-inlaws and the extended family of siblings and cousins.  Boxes from long distance relatives are rolling in, populating the area beneath the tree with tantalizingly wrapped presents and driving much speculation about what may or may not be contained within.  The kids are as excited as can be about the nightly frolics of our house elf and the imminent arrival of Santa.  I wonder if this is the last year they all believe?  Maybe I have one more year but if not, I’m enjoying this one.

. . .{yawn} . . .

I feel like I’m waking up from a long snooze.  My poor blog has been neglected for so long.  I wanted to say a huge thank you to those of you who have dropped me a note whether in a comment here or on Facebook.  It truly gave me a wonderful feeling to have someone check in on me or say something kind about my work.

Truth be told, I have missed the challenge, perspective and creativity of my 365 project – the joy in the details shots that I never would have taken otherwise.  I need to find a way to reharness that creativity without the crushing pressure of a 365 so I’m trying to decide what the new year will bring in that regard.  Probably a 52 week project.  I’m toying with "things I love" as a theme.  Anyone have a photography project on tap for 2011?  If so, I’d love to hear about it and be inspired!  I’m working on a fresh new blog so I’ll some place to start anew. 

Despite neglecting my blog, I haven’t abandoned my camera.  I shot a couple spring lines for an online boutique which was lots of fun and indulged my slight obsession with cute kids' clothes.  This weekend, I had a chance to meet up with some amazing photographers from The Bloom Forum to eat, bond and shoot some gorgeous models.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .